Factory Signal Briefing — May 14, 2026
Advanced Manufacturing · 3D Printing · CNC · Robotics · AI Vision
News
From the mail bag…
From the mail bag! Hey whatup. Just wanted to say I really really love you folks. I am a perma tired industrial engineer, factory automation. I deal with the cream of the bottom of the…
Automating Window Shades With Home Assistant
Most people love window shades, but many dislike the tedium of having to open and close them over the course of each day. While there are automation options here, if …read more
Branch Technology developing 3D printed 50-meter lunar towers for NASA
Based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, construction 3D printing company Branch Technology has been working with NASA since 2017, when it won the 3D Printed Habitat Challenge. Now, the company is…
Cooler Can Holder #3DPrinting #3DThursday
Every week we’ll 3D print designs from the community and showcase slicer settings, use cases and of course, Time-lapses! This Week: Cooler Can Holder By animuL67…
Creality Patent Suggests Faster Filament Switching For FFF Printing
A new patent application by Creality describes a way to make filament changes faster in FFF 3D printers.
Drifbolt is launching India’s first 3D printed footwear brand with TPU lattice collection
Drifbolt, positioning itself as India’s first 3D printed footwear brand, will launch in one month with three products: the Breeze (₹7,990 / ~$96), the Wave (₹9,990 / ~$120), and the …
FIU’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine builds out 3D printing lab for anatomical and clinical training
A single printer and a handful of components sourced out of pocket have grown into a functioning medical fabrication facility at Florida International University‘s Herbert Wertheim College…
FLEETWERX and NPS CAMRE field test distributed manufacturing pipeline for military operations
FLEETWERX, working alongside the Naval Postgraduate School’s Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education (NPS CAMRE), is currently running FLEET-X, a live operational…
From Wright Brothers to Air Taxis: Joby Aviation’s Bold Manufacturing Bet in Dayton
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi explore how Joby Aviation’s Dayton expansion signals a turning point in scalable eVTOL manufacturing.
Mecha-Style Desk Lamp with Phone + Pen Holder #3DPrinting #3DThursday
DreamCraft_ shares: lamp uses a snap-fit design, requires no supports, and is foldable download the files on: https://makerworld.com/en/models/1194406-sci-fi-mecha-style-multifunctional-desk…
Microplastics May Be an Even Bigger Problem Than We Thought
New research adds a troubling new dimension to 3D printing waste: it may be contributing not only to pollution, but also to climate change.
Raspberry Pi 5 AI/M.2 HAT+ Snap Case – Hex Vent + Compliant Power Button #3DPrinting #3DThursday
lr_f3d shares: Hexagonal-patterned Pi 5 case with an integrated compliant mechanism power button — press a tab on the back and it actuates the Pi’s button. No screws, no loose hardware…
Spent a month designing a wind-powered Archimedes screw, until seeing that insane water-powered one last week
Score 1602 · 125 comments
I’m not going to lie, I feel completely crushed. I’ve spent so much time in shapr3d for the last month, obsessing over this. I finally got the tolerances perfect, and to make it working…
The remontoir d’égalité, a constant force mechanism
Score 406 · 31 comments
I made this little gadget while working on a clock project. It’s a constant-force mechanism designed to drive the escapement. This type of mechanism can be found in large, old-fashioned…
Showing my age here but this was one of my favourite games growing up 😅
Score 400 · 19 comments
https://i.redd.it/x4r8k4kq921h1.jpeg
I have the STL file for this model. I want to make it into a keychain. How can I do that?
Score 126 · 79 comments
Should I edit the model itself and make a hole fit for the keychain or is there another way ?
I decided to design my own Steam Controller stand that was small and functional rather than some giant controller cradle thing:
Score 312 · 15 comments
https://v.redd.it/ojsiyag3631h1
Question about selling prices
Score 101 · 66 comments
Hi everyone! I recently got myself a printer and I have been having a blast with it. I posted some prints and I get asked a few times about selling things. This one is the most recent I made…
I designed some fridge magnets for you (free download)
Score 158 · 6 comments
These are modeled by hand, no AI involved! I'm open for suggestions for my next model. What's missing in this maritime fridge magnet series? Manta Ray…
PLA for Coasters
Score 72 · 22 comments
Has anyone used PLA for coasters? I designed and printed some, and while I liked how they looked, but I think they were a little slippery. Do you guys have ever done anything like this…
I made a soda can opener for long nails
Score 63 · 15 comments
I love drinking soda but it's always been so hard for me to open the soda tab with long nails, so I made a soda opener to make it easier and to protect my nails! I attached it to my purse…